MANILA (ABS-CBN) - Anti-crime group the Crusade Against Violence (CAV) expressed anxiety Tuesday that Malacañang and the Catholic Church may be conniving on a plan to eventually scrap the death penalty law.

CAV spokesperson Carina Agarao cited the Catholic Church as among the most influential entities when it comes to Presidential decisions.

"When it comes to influencing Presidential decisions, I can only see the Catholic Church. (It) has already made a stand that they do accept money from criminals and when you accept money it's impossible that you don't get a hold then," Agarao said.

Last Sunday, President Joseph Estrada expressed his intent to abolish the death penalty law and commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

This Tuesday, the Chief Executive said Malacañang is endorsing a bill now pending before the House of Representatives, calling for repeal of the death penalty law.

Estrada also reiterated only those cases that have been finally reviewed by the Supreme Court could benefit from the said order.

"Well those only who will be commuted to life are those with final judgment. We cannot commute those who are still appealing their cases, only those who already have the final judgment," Estrada said in an interview in Malacañang.

Malacañang further disclosed there are 105 affirmed death convicts who would be commuted to life imprisonment instead. Out of the 105, 16 convicts have already been scheduled for execution via lethal injection.

Agarao said the difference in the numbers already signals "shady colors" behind the order.

"Now it appears that we are being (led) into believing that only 10 percent of people in death row will be granted commutation, I guess that is the reason why they arrive at the figure of 105," she said.

Victims of heinous crimes, on the other hand, have expressed complete dismay over the recent pronouncement, saying such move would only leave them at a loss.

Noel Andres, a victim, said Estrada's gesture is unfair to them as victims.

"Yung effort na ginawa mo at effort na ginawa ko binale wala mo (Estrada) [You (Estrada) ignored both your effort and my effort]. I think its unfair, very unfair for us," Andres said.

The President, on the other hand, admitted "he could not please everybody in this world" but still defended his decision saying "it is for the greater good of the greatest number of people."

"Palagay ko mas maraming nasiyahan kaysa sa nalungkot. Ito (death penalty) ay ayaw din ng mga religions. Unang una ng Iglesia ni Cristo ayaw din ng death penalty and El Shaddai ayaw ng death penalty, and Katoliko ayaw ng death penalty. Iyan ang majority ng ating mamamayan di ba?," the President said.

[I believe, there are more who are happy than sad. Religions have contradicted the death penalty. Iglesia ni Cristo has opposed death penalty; El Shaddai has also said no to death penalty; and the Catholic Church has also opposed the death penalty. This is the majority of Filipinos, right?]

He added he believes death convicts could still reform, saying "they are also human."

Meanwhile, previous presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos have different stands on the issue as the latter said she favors the abolition of the death penalty, while the former claimed such move was not appropriate.

Ramos explained Estrada's order did not take in consultations with victims' families.

Aside from the commutation, the President has also ordered the release of some 200 political prisoners still languishing in jail.